Work-bench.



Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 n: Mwms FETERS no FKCWLLIYMD" wasp/ma TDN. o c

H; W. LEWIS WORK BENCH.

APPUCATION FILED APR. 6, l9l 6.

Patented Mai. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 73 Pa W (a- HENRY w. LEWIS, or WASHIIiT GTON, DISTRICTor COLUMBIA.

WORK-BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

' Appiication filed April e, 1916. Serial No. 89,433.

To all whom it may ooncern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Work-Benches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to work benches and has for its object theprovision of simple and inexpensive means whereby a board may beproperly held during the operation of planing or sawing. One object ofthe invention is to provide a holder or support for the work which maybe'readily adjustedto insure the planing of a board to the proper depth,and another object of the invention is to provide novel means wherebyboards of different widths may be accommodated and held steady duringthe operation of sawing.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consistsin certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fullydescribed and then more particularly pointed out in the claims followingthe description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved work holder in abench;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the holder;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. at is a transverse section on the line T C-4E of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the means for varying the heightof the platform upon which the work rests;

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken throu h the plane of the pivot by whichthe WOI'i rest or platform is connected with the frame.

The work bench 1, shown in the accompanying drawings, may be of anydesired position upon dimensions ,or construction and will ordi---narily be equipped with a vise 1 asis well known. y

In carrying out my invention, I employ a frame consisting of side bars 2and 3 connected at one end by a cross bar 4 and at intervals betweentheir ends by braces 5.

The side bar 3 is of greater vertical dimension than the side bar 2 sothat, if the rear bar 2 and the end bar at be placed upon the surface ofthe work bench 1, the front side bar 3 will bear against the front edgeof the bench and abut the inner-fixed jaw of the wee 1, as clearly shownin Fig.1. The upper edges of both side bars 2 and 3 are inclineddownwardly from the endbar at toward the free ends of the side bars andin the said upper edges of the side bars, immediately adjacent the endbar a, I provide a stepped series of notches 6 which are adapted toreceive a gage bar or rest 7. This gage bar or rest consists of a singlebar of proper length to seat in corresponding notches in the two sidebars and provided at its ends with downturned portions or stops 8adapted to engage against the outer surfaces of the side bars andthereby prevent en'dwise movement which would release the gage from thenotch. The frame will preferably be constructed of metal and mayconveniently be cast in one structure and the rest orgage 7 may be ofmetal or of wood, as may be preferred. A stop bar 9 is fitted betweenthe side bars immediately adjacent the end bar'a'nd this stop bar willpreferably be of wood so that the blade of a plane will not beinjured'by contact therewith. stop bar 9 is provided witha lip or flange10 along one side which rests upon the upper edge of the end bar 4 andthereby supports the said stop bar in its operative posision. A platformor rest 11 is disposed be tween the side bars 2 and 3 and is pivoted toand between said side bars by a pintle member 12 having trunnions 13 atits ends engaging suitable openings in the side bars, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 6. This platform or rest 11 has cleats 15L secured toits under side so as to counteract a tendency to warping or splittingand also reinforce the platform. as will be readily understood.

' The free end of this platform is supported the cushion or stop 9, willproject very slightly above the said stop 9 but, if the gage be set inthe higher notches, the plat form will, of course, be swung upwardlyabout its pivot 12 and the free end thereof will, consequently, beraised relative to the stop 9'so that a board placed upon the plat- TheCir

fixed position relative to the form will project to a greater extentabove the said stop. The platform or work holder can thus be very easilyand quickly adjusted so that the work will project above the stop 9 tothe exact extent to which it is to be planed.

When the board to be planed is of even straight grain wood, it will beheld sufliciently steady by having one end in contact with the stop 9but, if the wood be crossgrained, it will frequently tend to swingaround as the plane 1s moved over its surface and render the operationlaborious and which may be of tubular'or other formation,

provided the end immediately adjacent the side bar2 is sufficientlylarge to furnish the necessary clearance to permit the rack bars to playthrough and engage the lower walls of the notches 20 formed in the saidside bar; When the notches in the lower edges of the rack bars 18 engagethe edges of the notches 20 in the side bar 2, as shown in Fig. etherestor stop 16 will be held in a platform 11 but, if the said stop beraised sufficiently to permit the rack bars 'to clear the bases of saidnotches, the device may be shifted transversely of the platform so as tomove the stop 16 toward or from the platform and thereby set the devicefor boards of various widths. The stop 16 also serves as a gage to guidea saw when a board placed upon the platform'or work holder is to besawed. If

the board is held against the member 16 with one end. thereof projectingbeyond the said member so that the point at which the kerf is to beformed will be in alinement with the end of the stop, the saw may bereadily operated to cut a straight kerf at the desired point if the sideof the saw be held against the end of the stop, as will be readilyunderstood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will. be readily understood that I haveprovided an exceedingly simple and inexpensive device whereby the workmay be firmly supported and quickly set so that the extent to which itwill be planed will be determined without constantly measuring the sameas the workprogresses. The device is especially adapted for use p intraining schools where the pupils are not proficient in the use of toolsand through their lack of skill frequently destroy valuable tools andmaterial. The platform or rest 11 may be quickly changed from oneinclination to another by merely raising the free end of the same,shifting the gage bar 7 and then lowering the platform, as will bereadily under stood, and should the stop 9 become broken or damagedthrough long continued use or through accident, so that its efliciencyis destroyed, a new stop member may be provided in a few minutes. Thismember is not secured to the frame but *merely rests on the end bar ofthe same between the side bars and, when in use, will be held againstmovement by the side bars of the frame and by the work pressing itagainst the end bar. The racks 18 may be easily adjusted and, when inuse, will be held steady and firm by reason of the bottoms of the guidesbeing inclined upwardly from the side bar 2 to the front side bar 3, asshown most clearly in Fig. 4;. As the said members are adjusted towardthe front side bar 3, the greater weight of the same will tend to causethe front ends thereof to drop, but this tendency is overcome by thesaid ends engaging against the bottoms of the guides.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, a frame comprising side barsand cross bars connecting the same, the front side bar depending belowthe plane of the rear side bar whereby the frame may rest upon a benchwith the front side bar abutting the front edge of the bench, a platformpivoted to the frame at one end thereof, and an adjustable support forthe platform at the opposite end of the frame.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a frame, aplatform pivoted to the said frame at one end thereof, a support for thefree end of the platform adjustable upon the frame, and a stop on theframe adjacent said support and beyond the free end of the platform.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a frame, aplatform pivoted at one end in the frame and adjustably supportedthereon at its free end, a transverse stop on the frame adjacent andrising above the free end of the platform, and a longitudinal stopadjustable transversely of the frame and rising above the rear edge ofthe platform.

4. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a framecomprising side bars provided with stepped notches in their upper edgesadjacent one end, a gage bar adapted to seat freely in the said notchesand provided at its ends with depending stops adapted to engage theouter faces of the side bars, whereby to be held against movementtransversely of the frame, and a platform pivoted at one end to andbetween the side bars and having its free end extendprovided withnotches in its rear side, transing over and resting upon said gage bar.verse guides upon the frame, racks playing 5. In a device for thepurpose set forth, in said guides and engaging the bases of 10 thecombination of a frame, a platform pivsaid notches, and a longitudinallydisposed otally supported at one end of the frame, an stop carried bythe rear ends of said racks. adjustable support for said platform at theIn testimony whereof I affix my signature. opposite end of the frame,the frame being HENRY W. LEWIS. [1 s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, I). C.

